Day 10: Schooled in Aguilares

What a wonderful day!! We headed off at 8AM for a school in Aguilares where many of the children and youth from the Aguilares Church attend.

We were greeted at the gates as we got out of the van by Stephanie, the older sister of Karla, the little girl who lives next door to the Aguilares Church and who I have grown so fond of over the last 2 years. I was hoping to also see Karla but we were told by Stephanie that Karla does not go to school because she was having problems. I later had a discussion with their mother and found out that Karla has a learning problem likely caused by an operation that she had when she was younger. Now she has hard time writing and is not able to read and is teased at school. Please lift up a prayer for Karla that she will get the help that she needs and that she will be able to return to school.

We started the morning with the primary classes, grades 3, 5 and 6 and later we spoke with grades 2 and 4. We had to change things a bit for the younger kids and the salvation bracelets went over great. All ages liked the bracelets and were able to recite the meaning of the 5 colours; even the teachers got into the excitement and wanted them.

About 11:30 we headed out for a quick lunch so that we could be back at the school for 1:00 and the senior grades 7, 8 and 9. The teachers said that we could have the older kids as long as we wish but as soon as the rains start around 3:00 that they send the kids home. This sounded strange until almost right at 3:00 the rain started and it came in so quick, then we understood as the hard rain bounced off the tin roofs and you could hear nothing in the classroom, our afternoon was finished. 

 We decided to treat Karla and her sister Stephanie to an evening with the team. Not sure who got the most out of it, the younger girls or the older ones.   We took them out for dinner, then shopping for a few items that they needed and then came back to the hotel for an evening swim. I don’t think I saw two young girls get too excited about an evening of activity and they were so tired by the time they settled down for the night. 

It was such a blessed day, I am so lucky to be part of this experience ... Thank You God for allowing me to be able to serve in this way.

- Allan Day

P.S.        Please keep the team in your prayers as we enter into the last days of this trip ... Our emotions are high and the experiences keep on coming.